When Her Death Couldn't Break Him (Cecilia and Nathaniel) novel Chapter 2172

Miranda's fury detonated. She jabbed a manicured finger at Charlotte's nose, but her words were directed at Cecilia. "See that arrogance? You think I'll simply let her walk away after humiliating my child?"

Truth be told, Miranda had never liked Cecilia. Today felt like the perfect chance to seize a weakness—and she clung to it with vicious relish.

Charlotte had struck her precious boy; Miranda was not a woman to forgive or forget.

Cecilia opened her mouth, but Charlotte lifted a quiet hand, stopping her.

"Boss, leave me be. I'm fine. Worst-case scenario? I'll just spend a few days behind bars. It's no big deal."

Cecilia knew pleading would only embolden Miranda. If she were to beg now, the latter would only be even more smug.

In the end, officers led Charlotte away, her back straight, her gaze unbroken.

Before climbing into her car, Miranda tossed a final remark over her shoulder. "Don't blame me for being ruthless, Ceci. Any mother would protect her son. If yours were treated like that, you'd do the same."

Cecilia said nothing. Silence, cold and heavy, draped over her like midnight fog.

When the driveway emptied, she pulled out her phone and called Norman Jenkins, her attorney. "Charlotte's been detained. See if you can bail her out immediately."

After ending the call, she saw Elliot shuffling toward her, eyes rimmed red.

"Mommy, I'm sorry," he murmured, voice trembling like a candle in the wind.

Cecilia knelt so they were eye-level. "Sweetie, why are you apologizing to me?"

"I'm the one who invited our classmate over to play," Elliot murmured, his voice trembling. "If I hadn't, none of this mess would have happened."

Elliot had never imagined Felix could be so shameless. No one had asked the boy to come, yet he had strutted in anyway—an unexpected storm that tore the peaceful afternoon apart.

Cecilia lifted a gentle hand and ruffled the boy's hair. "You silly thing," she said, tone soft yet certain. "How could any of this be your fault? Don't overthink it."

"But what about Ms. Talbot?" Elliot's voice thinned, the sentence trailing off like smoke.

"Don't worry," Cecilia replied, fingers still resting atop his head. "Ms. Talbot would never blame you. And I promise I'll find a way to bring her home."

Elliot nodded so hard his hair flopped over his eyes.

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